Hugo De Burgos named among Canada’s Most Influential Hispanics

Hugo De Burgos accepting his award as one of Canada’s 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians

UBC assistant professor a role model for visible minorities

Assistant Professor of Anthropology Hugo De Burgos has been named one of Canada’s 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians. Chris Alexander, minster of immigration, and Ian Troop, CEO of Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games presented the awards at a ceremony in Toronto recently.

“I am honoured and humbled to receive this award,” says De Burgos, who is a multi-award winning international researcher and scholar. “To be recognized by members of my own culture and language is a moving experience.”

De Burgos came to Canada from El Salvador alone, as a teenager. The young immigrant found inspiration in Chilean professors at the University of Alberta, where he later received his PhD.

De Burgos is happy that he can be an inspiration for young Hispanics in Canada. He is an anthropologist, filmmaker, activist and assistant professor with the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

“Through my work, I try to be a role model for visible minorities,” he says. “This award makes role models concrete. It shows young people that we are not ‘out there’ we are ‘here’ and making a difference in mainstream Canadian society.”

Since 2007, 70 Hispanics from eight provinces and 15 countries of origin have been selected as Most Influential Hispanics in Canada by media and business executives and academic leaders. The awards, organized by the Canadian Hispanic Business Alliance, recognize Hispanic Canadians who are making a positive impact on Canadian society.